Saturday, June 8, 2013

Men in uniform on the streets of Jaipur - music on the move! Rajasthan is culturally rich and has artistic and cultural traditions
which reflect the ancient Indian way of life.

Rajasthan is pre-eminent in quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal
was built from the white marble which was mined from a town called Makrana. Jodhpur
or red sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important buildings and
residential buildings. The two materials are decoratively combined, with exquisite effect, in the picture above.

A Palace with a view! An impressive garden and water feature seen from the Amber Fort

Intricate designs at the Amber Palace - Jaipur

The blogger's travel companions ... remarkable ladies capable of bringing any man, beast or behemoth to its knees!

Rajasthan attracted 14% of total foreign visitors during 2009–2010 which
is the 4th highest among Indian states. It is 4th also in
domestic tourist visitors. Endowed with natural beauty and a great history,
tourism is a flourishing industry in Rajasthan. The palaces of Jaipur and
Ajmer-Pushkar, the lakes of Udaipur, the desert forts of Jodhpur, Taragarh Fort
(Star Fort) in Bundi, and Bikaner and Jaisalmer rank among the most preferred
destinations in India for many tourists both Indian and foreign.

The Taj Mahal attracts a large
number of tourists. UNESCO documented more than 2 million visitors in 2001,
including more than 200,000 from overseas. A two tier pricing system is in
place, with a significantly lower entrance fee for Indian citizens and a more
expensive one for foreigners. Most tourists visit in the cooler months of
October, November and February. Polluting traffic is not allowed near the
complex and tourists must either walk from parking lots or catch an electric
bus. Lists of recommended travel destinations often
feature the Taj Mahal, which also appears in several listings of seven wonders of
the modern world, including the recently announced New Seven Wonders of the
World, a recent poll with 100 million votes.

The Taj Mahal "crown of palaces", is a white marble
mausoleum located in Agra. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory
of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It’s widely recognized as "the jewel of
Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the
world's heritage". It is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal
architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman
Turkish and Indian architectural styles. The construction began around 1632 and
was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen
primarily from Persia/Iran. While earlier Mughal buildings were primarily constructed
of red sandstone, Shah Jahan promoted the use of white marble inlaid with semi-precious
stones, and buildings under his patronage reached new levels of refinement.

The calligraphy on the Great Gate
reads "O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him,
and He at peace with you."It was created by calligrapher Abd ul-Haq in
1609. Shah Jahan conferred the title of "Amanat Khan" upon him as a
reward for his "dazzling virtuosity." Near the lines
from the Qur'an at the base of the interior dome is the inscription,
"Written by the insignificant being, Amanat Khan Shirazi." Much of
the calligraphy is composed of florid thuluth script, made of jasper or black
marble, inlaid in white marble panels. Higher panels are written in slightly
larger script to reduce the skewing effect when viewed from below. The
calligraphy found on the marble cenotaphs in the tomb is particularly detailed
and delicate.

The
minarets of the Taj Mahal, which are each more than 40 metres tall, display the designer's
penchant for symmetry. They were designed as working minarets — a
traditional element of mosques, used by the muezzin to call the Islamic
faithful to prayer. Each minaret is effectively divided into three equal parts
by two working balconies that ring the tower. At the top of the tower is a
final balcony surmounted by a chattri that mirrors the design of those on the
tomb. The chattris all share the same decorative elements of a lotus design
topped by a gilded finial. The minarets were constructed slightly outside of
the plinth so that, in the event of collapse, (a typical occurrence with many
tall constructions of the period) the material from the towers would tend to fall
away from the tomb.

Albert Hall - Jaipur boasts an excellent natural history museum built in 1886 by Sir Swinton Jacob and has a rare collection of artifacts and craft items such as metalwork, ivory carvings, pieces of jewellery, textile, pottery and paintings.

A night out at the Rajasthan Cultural Centre - authentic vegetarian cuisine

Monkey Temple on the outskirts of Jaipur

Worshippers at the Monkey Temple

Behind the façade of Hawa Mahal or "Palace of Winds" in Jaipur. The Gurjar Pratihar Emphire acted as a barrier for Arab invaders from the 8th to the 11th century. The chief accomplishment of the empire lies in its successful resistance to the foreign invasions from the west. The Chandra Mahal can be seen silhouetted against the skyline.

Rajasthan, known as
"the land of kings," covers 10.4% of India by land area and is
located in the northwest of the country. Jaipur is the capital and the largest
city of the state.

Rajasthan's formerly independent kingdom created a rich architectural
and cultural heritage, seen even today in their numerous forts and palaces (Mahals and Havelis) which are enriched by features of Islamic and Jain architecture.

Rajasthan is famous for its forts, intricately carved temples, and
decorated havelis, which were built by Rajput kings in pre-Muslim era Rajasthan.
Rajasthan's Jaipur Jantar Mantar, Dliwara
Temples, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, miniature paintings in Bundi, and
numerous city palaces and havelis are an important part of the architectural
heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made
of a type of sand stone dominated by a pink or red hue.

A memorable pic of the gals at the Hawa Mahal - Jaipur!

Madhavendra Palace which overlooks the city of Jaipur.

Perfect symmetry at the Madhavendra Palace

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Domestic tourists appreciate local sights and delights!

Exquisite gardens at the Amber Palace

Home visit and authentic Rajasthan cuisine, features of the Elefantastic Elephant Tours experience.

Originating for the Marwar region of the state
is the concept Marwari Bhojnalaya, or vegetarian restaurants, today found in
many part of India, which offer vegetarian food of the Marwari people.

Rajasthani cooking was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its
inhabitants and the availability of ingredients in this arid region. Food that
could last for several days and could be eaten without heating was preferred.
Scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on the
cooking. famous dishes include bajre ki roti (millet bread) and lashun
ki chutney (hot garlic paste).

Rajasthan's
economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral. Wheat and barley are cultivated
over large areas, as are pulses, sugarcane, and oilseeds. Cotton and tobacco
are the state's cash crops. Rajasthan is among the largest producers of edible
oils in India and the second largest producer of oilseeds. It is also the
biggest wool-producing state in India and the main opium producer and consumer.

Welcome to my Rajasthan boudoir! The state is known for its traditional and colourful art. The block prints,
tie and dye prints, Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari embroidery are major export products from Rajasthan.

About Me

Barry is a seasoned development practitioner having worked on donor-funded projects in Africa, Oceania, SE Asia and the Middle East. He is also an avid naturalist and enjoys sharing his experiences with friends and family using social media as an innovative instrument for communication.